WRITING A
RESUME OR CV
GETTING NOTICED BY POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS
RECOMMENDATIONS
•Clearly indicate contact information.
Employers will probably spend less than 30 seconds
looking at your résumé or curriculum vitae (CV). They
will interview only the strongest candidates. Follow the
recommendations below to make yourself stand out:
•Focus on measurable accomplishments from your
prior experience that are relevant to the employer.
Be succinct, but include substance and depth. Do not
share everything about yourself.
•Focus on the needs of the potential employer. An
employer should think, “Wow, this person has
exactly what I need.” If possible, tailor your résumé
or CV to employers’ specific job openings. Use key
words found in the job description or advertisement.
•Be bold and honest. Use Power Statements
(described at www.ldsjobs.org and in the Career
Workshop) to highlight your skills and experience.
•Use an easy-to-read format. This makes it more
likely that the employer will read it.
Master Accounting Group—Plain City, CA
A California-based accounting group and tax consultancy, serving small to medium-sized
businesses and private, high net-worth individuals.
Managed nine individuals at Master Accounting Group. Responsible for the corporate
finance, budgets, accounting, payroll, accrual, cash flow, and reporting systems for numerous client companies. Achieved the following for client companies:
•Negotiated $125,000 settlement with the IRS, saving thousands of dollars in tax penalties.
TYPES OF RÉSUMÉS AND CV
Targeted
A targeted résumé or CV focuses on a particular objective within a specific industry or company. It highlights
skills, qualifications, and experience matching a position’s requirements.
This format is most effective when you know the specifics about the position or company.
•Saved $375,000 for a fast-growing client by setting up proper budgeting, backlog
­management, and cash-flow and reporting systems.
Chronological
•Improved cash flow by $486,000 by designing and implementing an inventorypurchasing department using a material requirement planning (MRP) system.
•Put your strongest selling points at the beginning of
sections or sentences.
A chronological résumé or CV shows the progression
of your career, from entry-level to senior-level jobs.
Hiring managers prefer employment information with
the most recent job listed first. Many employers want
to know details about where you have worked in the
past, including dates.
•Ask others to proofread your résumé or CV to
eliminate errors or inconsistencies. Employers notice
sloppy mistakes.
•You have a solid career history within the same area
with no major gaps.
•Advised on organizational issues to minimize federal and state tax liabilities and
­improve profit margins and overall sales growth.
This format is most appropriate if:
“Neglect not the gift that is in thee.”
1 TIMOT H Y 4:14
•Each career change has brought you increased responsibilities.
•You have had high-profile job roles.
•Your recent jobs are the most important in your
career history.
Functional (Skills)
A functional résumé or CV emphasizes your accomplishments, skills, and qualifications rather than when
and where you used them. It focuses on the skills
relevant to the current job search and groups them by
function.
Inventory
An inventory résumé or CV presents a general overview of your skills, achievements, and qualifications.
If it states an objective or career path, it uses general
terms (such as “a secretary working with a local
company,” “a computer programmer,” or “a salesperson”), though it should still be consistent with your
career goals.
This format is most effective if you:
•Plan to send your résumé or CV to various recruiters.
•Do not have a specific job objective.
This format is best for graduating students with little
“real-world” experience, those who have been out of
the workforce for long periods, and job seekers who
are changing from one career or industry to another.
•Need to submit your résumé or CV for many positions in order to save time.
Combination
If you are interested in several careers, write several
inventory résumés or CV, each for a particular career
goal.
A combination résumé or CV combines the functional
and chronological formats. It lists your achievements
and skills and then your job history.
A combination format is the best choice if:
•You have performed a diverse or unique range of job
functions and you need to showcase your abilities.
•Need to compose different résumés or CV that correspond to a different career objective.
Note: Use caution when using the inventory format.
This is not the most effective method, but may be appropriate for some. Consult with your ward or stake
employment specialist or the employment resource
center to determine if it is right for you.
•You have a definite career path.
•You have targeted a job that is related to your job
history and experience.
You will want to use a different format if your work
experience is limited, if you have several or unexplained employment gaps, or if you have changed
jobs frequently.
LDS EMPLOYMENT RESOURCE SERVICES
The Career Workshop, LDS Employment Resource Services, and your stake employment
specialist can help you identify and articulate your skills and accomplishments that will
work with your résumé or CV.
“The knowledge and confidence I gained in the two-day Career Workshop was incredible. I went
home with hope, changed my résumé, and wrote a cover letter with a Power Statement about
myself, and in two weeks secured a wonderful position.”
Toronto, Canada
“Through the Career Workshop, I learned to prepare a curriculum vitae and application letters in
a manner to convince an employer of my full potential.”
Accra, Ghana
For more information or to locate an employment resource center near you, visit www.ldsjobs.org
© 2008 IRI. All rights reserved. 12/07. 37144